Top 10: Reasons to be excited for the Sounders FC in 2014

The 2014 Seattle Sounders Football Club regular season is FINALLY upon us. After 121 long, grueling days, MLS has returned and we can get back to soccer at CenturyLink Field.

Now, this list is going to fall squarely in the ‘no duh’ category for most of you Sounders supporters out there, but regardless it’s worth noting. The real matches are here and we are all allowed to be pumped.

To that end, perhaps having a list of reasons why it’s great the season is here will heighten the euphoria that is already palpable in this great northwesterly city of ours. It’s in the air, people. All around you.

Sounders soccer is back. Rejoice!

So let’s get cracking on this list of 10 reasons why you should be excited for the Sounders FC in the calendar year 2014 (In no particular order)

1. New year, new look – The Sounders made a number of big changes in the offseason. Ownership wasn’t pleased with how things ended in 2013 and the necessary changes were made. In come the likes of Kenny Cooper, Chad Marshall and Marco Pappa to replace names like Eddie Johnson, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and Mauro Rosales. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Stefan Frei, Tristan Bowen, Jalil Anibaba and more were brought in and because of this we’ll effectively see a brand new squad this year – one hell bent on bringing the MLS cup to Seattle.

2. The return of the international friendly – In years past, Seattle soccer has attracted some of the footballing world’s biggest clubs to come and play here, and that’s been no different with Sounders FC. This year, Tottenham Hotspur of Premier League fame will make the trip across the pond to take on your Rave Green boys on July 19 at CenturyLink Field. Going to be quite the match.

3. The 2014 World Cup – World Cup years are always an interesting time in MLS given that it falls right smack in the middle of the season. 2014 is no different as the league will take a short break to accommodate the group stage of FIFA’s top tournament. As far as the Sounders are concerned, the club is represented by the captain of the U.S. Men’s National Team Clint Dempsey and Brad Evans will be in the mix as a defender. Will be great to cheer those guys on from afar and watch a month of top-notch footy.

4. 40th Anniversary – 2014 marks the 40th Anniversary of the Sounders and boy do we have a lot planned. With so much history behind the club, it was imperative to properly capture all of it in our year-long celebrations, so we hope you all enjoy (and reminisce accordingly) as we make the 40th year the best yet.

5. First Kick vs. Sporting Kansas City – What better way to get the season started then by welcoming the champs of the whole league to your place for a little afternoon tussle? SKC took home the title in 2013 after it beat RSL on penalties at a frigid Sporting Park and will have the swagger of champions as its title defense opens. It’s the Sounders job to crush that feeling from Day One. Well done, scheduling gods.

6. Full stadium matches – Like each year prior, the Sounders will play a selection of matches in front of a widddde open CenturyLink Field. This means that the entire stadium will be open to purchase tickets…which results in crowds of over 50,000 cheering on your Seattle Sounders. This season, it’ll go down on six separate occasions (five in the league and the friendly against Tottenham). There really isn’t anything quite like it. More details to follow on this.

7. Clint Dempsey– It still hasn’t sunk in, for me at least, that we signed Dempsey last season. We got an abbreviated look at Dempsey who followed that age old MLS mantra of a DP struggling who joined a club midseason. And even though he wasn’t with the Sounders in preseason, having him here from the start of the year will be a huge boost. I’d also be willing to bet my life savings he greatly improves on his goal output from a year ago as well.

8. Pitch Black – Just released on Monday night, “Pitch Black” is the Sounders new super studly third kit. The reviews have been overwhelmingly positive from the supporters and people in-the-know nationwide…so it’s safe to say the Sounders will again be one of the best and most boldly-dressed clubs in MLS.

9. Youth Movement – The Sounders continue to be one of the younger squads in MLS and they got even younger in the offseason. With the signings of Homegrown Players Aaron Kovar and Sean Okoli, the club brought in two very talented Seattle-area kids to try and replicate the massive success of DeAndre Yedlin in 2013. Throw in Bowen (who’s only 23, despite being a five-year MLS vet), first round pick Damion Lowe (20) and the still developing Jalil Anibaba (25) and you have a solid young core.

10. You – Not trying to toot your horn or anything…but toot toot. The supporters are what make Sounders FC great. So for every hardcore fan who still gets chills during BOOM BOOM CLAP or the first-timer who didn’t even know what they were in for…give yourself a pat on the back.

…if that didn’t get you jazzed up for the start of the season, I don’t know what will.

The 2014 season kicks off this Saturday at 12 p.m. PT against Sporting Kansas City.